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From the President: For 25 years, accreditation has paved the way

A/Prof Chris Freeman FPS BPharm, GDipClinPharm, PhD, AACPA, AdvPracPharm, BCACP, MAICD - 1 February 2022

Opinion

For some, it may be hard to believe; but this month marks 25 years since the start of pharmacist accreditation for medication review in Australia.

From the President: PSA at the FIP World Congress in Seville,...

Dr Fei Sim FPS BPharm (Hons) PhD FHEA GAICD FPS - 30 September 2022

Dr Fei Sim, PSA President, supports accredited pharmacists through new PSA initiatives

Opinion

I have just returned from FIP’s World Congress of Pharmacy and Pharmaceutical Sciences in Seville, where PSA CEO Mark Kinsela, PSA Senior Pharmacist Peter...

Australian asthma deaths fall, mostly in women: ABS

Ruth Cooper - 16 October 2019

Clinical

The National Asthma Council has highlighted the vital role community pharmacists can play in identifying at-risk patients, following a drop in overall asthma deaths...

New COVID-19 case in Byron Bay means limited restrictions are back

Ruth Cooper - 31 March 2021

Industry

Queensland recorded three new cases of COVID-19 today (31 March), as residents of Greater Brisbane wait to hear if they will spend the Easter break in lockdown.

Pharmacists in 2023: roles and remuneration

Dr Chris Freeman FPS - 10 August 2019

Industry

Better remuneration and career support are key to the future of pharmacists’ roles. The pharmacy profession provides a much broader range of health services...

Antimicrobial use up in disadvantaged areas

Helen Hawkes - 7 October 2020

Industry

Antimicrobial medicines use declined in Australia from 2013 to 2018, but the country’s rate remains high by OECD standards, according to new research.

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7.30am	Brew and view Start the day with a strong latte; it’s non-negotiable. I’ll also usually have a quick look through my emails to get a sense of what’s coming up.
8.00am	Team alignment Connect with the team and check in on key priorities across the portfolio, including learner progress, program delivery, CPD and workforce initiatives. A lot of the focus is on aligning moving parts and making sure everything is tracking as it should.
12.00pm	Stakeholder engagement Meet with stakeholders – including health departments, partners or internal leaders – to discuss how our work supports current and evolving pharmacy roles. These conversations help to build a bridge between education and practice, ensuring what we’re doing is practical and required for pharmacists on the ground.
2.00pm	Program blueprint Spend time with the team on program design and delivery. That might be refining a workshop, reviewing content or shaping digital learning.
4.00pm	Shifting gears Pivot to more strategic work – including looking at new initiatives, thinking about what’s coming next, and how we continue to maintain and improve quality. This is usually where things start to connect across the bigger picture.
6.00pm	Evening reset Wrap up and head home. Evenings are a chance to spend time with my husband, check in on my parents in Malaysia and decompress. We chat about the day and catch up on everything that’s been going on.
8.00pm	Global growth Check emails or connect with collaborators in different time zones. I also use this time as a chance to step back and reflect on my work and where things are heading.

7.30am	Brew and view Start the day with a strong latte; it’s non-negotiable. I’ll also usually have a quick look through my emails to get a sense of what’s coming up.
8.00am	Team alignment Connect with the team and check in on key priorities across the portfolio, including learner progress, program delivery, CPD and workforce initiatives. A lot of the focus is on aligning moving parts and making sure everything is tracking as it should.
12.00pm	Stakeholder engagement Meet with stakeholders – including health departments, partners or internal leaders – to discuss how our work supports current and evolving pharmacy roles. These conversations help to build a bridge between education and practice, ensuring what we’re doing is practical and required for pharmacists on the ground.
2.00pm	Program blueprint Spend time with the team on program design and delivery. That might be refining a workshop, reviewing content or shaping digital learning.
4.00pm	Shifting gears Pivot to more strategic work – including looking at new initiatives, thinking about what’s coming next, and how we continue to maintain and improve quality. This is usually where things start to connect across the bigger picture.
6.00pm	Evening reset Wrap up and head home. Evenings are a chance to spend time with my husband, check in on my parents in Malaysia and decompress. We chat about the day and catch up on everything that’s been going on.
8.00pm	Global growth Check emails or connect with collaborators in different time zones. I also use this time as a chance to step back and reflect on my work and where things are heading.

7.30am	Brew and view Start the day with a strong latte; it’s non-negotiable. I’ll also usually have a quick look through my emails to get a sense of what’s coming up.
8.00am	Team alignment Connect with the team and check in on key priorities across the portfolio, including learner progress, program delivery, CPD and workforce initiatives. A lot of the focus is on aligning moving parts and making sure everything is tracking as it should.
12.00pm	Stakeholder engagement Meet with stakeholders – including health departments, partners or internal leaders – to discuss how our work supports current and evolving pharmacy roles. These conversations help to build a bridge between education and practice, ensuring what we’re doing is practical and required for pharmacists on the ground.
2.00pm	Program blueprint Spend time with the team on program design and delivery. That might be refining a workshop, reviewing content or shaping digital learning.
4.00pm	Shifting gears Pivot to more strategic work – including looking at new initiatives, thinking about what’s coming next, and how we continue to maintain and improve quality. This is usually where things start to connect across the bigger picture.
6.00pm	Evening reset Wrap up and head home. Evenings are a chance to spend time with my husband, check in on my parents in Malaysia and decompress. We chat about the day and catch up on everything that’s been going on.
8.00pm	Global growth Check emails or connect with collaborators in different time zones. I also use this time as a chance to step back and reflect on my work and where things are heading.

7.30am	Brew and view Start the day with a strong latte; it’s non-negotiable. I’ll also usually have a quick look through my emails to get a sense of what’s coming up.
8.00am	Team alignment Connect with the team and check in on key priorities across the portfolio, including learner progress, program delivery, CPD and workforce initiatives. A lot of the focus is on aligning moving parts and making sure everything is tracking as it should.
12.00pm	Stakeholder engagement Meet with stakeholders – including health departments, partners or internal leaders – to discuss how our work supports current and evolving pharmacy roles. These conversations help to build a bridge between education and practice, ensuring what we’re doing is practical and required for pharmacists on the ground.
2.00pm	Program blueprint Spend time with the team on program design and delivery. That might be refining a workshop, reviewing content or shaping digital learning.
4.00pm	Shifting gears Pivot to more strategic work – including looking at new initiatives, thinking about what’s coming next, and how we continue to maintain and improve quality. This is usually where things start to connect across the bigger picture.
6.00pm	Evening reset Wrap up and head home. Evenings are a chance to spend time with my husband, check in on my parents in Malaysia and decompress. We chat about the day and catch up on everything that’s been going on.
8.00pm	Global growth Check emails or connect with collaborators in different time zones. I also use this time as a chance to step back and reflect on my work and where things are heading.

What drew you to education?

Describe your career so far.

What does your new role at PSA entail?

Tell us more about your work involving simulation and digital learning.

What are the challenges of introducing new technologies or teaching models?

Any advice for ECPs who want to shape the next generation of pharmacists?

Day in the life of Vivienne Mak, Head of Education and Training, PSA, Melbourne, Victoria

What has your career looked like so far?

Why aged care?

What are the challenges and rewards of working in this setting?

Tell us about the training program for onsite pharmacists you’re developing.

What are the next steps?

How could the ACOP program improve?

1. Who can administer FluMist?

2. Can pharmacists co-administer vaccines?

3. Can pharmacists vaccinate interstate?

4. How do pharmacists maintain immunisation credentials?

What is diphtheria?

What are the symptoms?

How dangerous is the disease?

Was it once eradicated in Australia?

Why has there been a resurgence?

Can diphtheria be treated?

Who is most at risk?

What are the risks of an outbreak here?

How often are booster doses required?

What can pharmacists do?

1. Entering identifiable patient information into AI platforms

3. Using AI scribes without proper consent

4. Failing to check transcription accuracy

5. Trusting AI output without checking the references

An evolving space

What drew you to education?

Describe your career so far.

What does your new role at PSA entail?

Tell us more about your work involving simulation and digital learning.

What are the challenges of introducing new technologies or teaching models?

Any advice for ECPs who want to shape the next generation of pharmacists?

Day in the life of Vivienne Mak, Head of Education and Training, PSA, Melbourne, Victoria

What has your career looked like so far?

Why aged care?

What are the challenges and rewards of working in this setting?

Tell us about the training program for onsite pharmacists you’re developing.

What are the next steps?

How could the ACOP program improve?

1. Who can administer FluMist?

2. Can pharmacists co-administer vaccines?

3. Can pharmacists vaccinate interstate?

4. How do pharmacists maintain immunisation credentials?

What is diphtheria?

What are the symptoms?

How dangerous is the disease?

Was it once eradicated in Australia?

Why has there been a resurgence?

Can diphtheria be treated?

Who is most at risk?

What are the risks of an outbreak here?

How often are booster doses required?

What can pharmacists do?

1. Entering identifiable patient information into AI platforms

3. Using AI scribes without proper consent

4. Failing to check transcription accuracy

5. Trusting AI output without checking the references

An evolving space

What drew you to education?

Describe your career so far.

What does your new role at PSA entail?

Tell us more about your work involving simulation and digital learning.

What are the challenges of introducing new technologies or teaching models?

Any advice for ECPs who want to shape the next generation of pharmacists?

Day in the life of Vivienne Mak, Head of Education and Training, PSA, Melbourne, Victoria

What has your career looked like so far?

Why aged care?

What are the challenges and rewards of working in this setting?

Tell us about the training program for onsite pharmacists you’re developing.

What are the next steps?

How could the ACOP program improve?

1. Who can administer FluMist?

2. Can pharmacists co-administer vaccines?

3. Can pharmacists vaccinate interstate?